Woosh!
The black word transformed into a black light that shot toward the centre of his forehead.
Immediately after, extremely condensed energy exploded in his head, sweptwing through his entire brain.
Vooosh!
Simon felt like his head was stuck by lightning as a heart-piercing pain assaulted him. Letting out a painful scream Simon fell on the ground hugging his head.
"Simon, what is happened?"
The sudden development frightened Ivan, and his other classmates also surrounded him.
"My… head… hurts!"
Simon felt his brain was burning then melting and then reforming itself all in the same time, sweat rolled down his forehead. For second, he thought that something will split open his head and crawl out.
"Simon! wait let me call for an ambulance"
Ivan took out his phone and was about to dial for ambulance.
At that moment, the school's teachers and Mark Wilson who had noticed the commotion, also walked over.
"What happened?" the headmaster asked nervously.
But the one that replied to headmaster was Mark Wilson with look of delight.
"Congratulation, Headmaster"
"Mr. Mark, what do you mean?" the headmaster appeared dumbfounded.
"If I am not wrong, this student has awakened his Astral skill" Mark Wilson said with a smile.
"Awakened his Astral skill?"
The headmaster and teachers were taken aback. The class teacher was even more puzzled.
"But… but Simon already went through the trail earlier, he did not awaken, now it only happened now?"
"That's normal!" Mark Wilson smiled faintly.
"Under normal circumstances, many awaken when going through the trail, but there are few that awaken their skill later from other, we can say this as a buffer period"
Hearing this headmaster and teacher had a look of understanding and realization.
Then it hit them.
"So, that means there are two third-year student have successfully awakened their Astral skill this year"
Hearing this every one of the teachers where happy as giving birth to two Astral lord was considered a great contribution to the world the reward, they would will be remarkable.
"Congratulation's, headmaster!"
"Thank you, thank you"
The headmaster was so happy that he wished that he wished to give both a bear hug on the spot but thinking about his image as the headmaster he reframed from it.
In the past it was already nice to have awakened. But this year, two of them awakened, and good things came in pairs.
The onlooking students were whispering among themselves, their eyes full of envy.
"What kind of gods give luck do these guys have?"
"Where many of us didn't manage to awaken our Astral skill. But these two did? Why?"
Jealousy disoriented people, it would have been fine if it had been someone else, but what kind of people were Simon and Ivan.
Both of them have average grades.
They came from middle-class families.
Except for their looks, they had nothing good was going for them.
Now they awakened an Astral skill.
Every one really questioned if that being handsome was a condition to awaken Astral skill.
"Simon, are you feeling, okay?"
Seeing that he was gradually stabilize, Ivan asked with concern.
"I'm… okay"
Simon wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced a smile.
His face was paled, but the experience just now gave him a run for his money.
"Simon, we are Astral lords now."
Ivan was full of excitement as he laughed, shaking Simon hand vigorously, for second there Simon felt his arm was going fall off.
But he pretended to be shock as watch everyone eye on him.
"Student Simon, congratulation you too have also awakened the power of fire" Headmaster and the school teacher congratulate him.
Simon was thrilled.
Awakening was exciting but what excited him more was his Astral skill, a law-defining power to replicate other's Astral skill.
Do it not sound awesome!
But then Simon become caution because the power he had was too overpowered! It needed to be hidden from the world.
Or become so overpowered that none can threaten him.
Subsequently, the school teacher and others returned to the stage to continue the trial they also invited Simon and Ivan to the Stage.
"Simon, Ivan, first of all, congratulation on successfully awakening your Astral Skill and becoming an Astral Lord.
"Thank you" both said.
"Both of you should know that Astral skill is mainly divided into four types.
Elemental Manipulation type, Body Transformation type, Mental type, and Unique Special-type.
Both of you come under Elemental Manipulation type. That to the one with most offensive capability on Elemental Manipulation types."
Simon and Ivan nodded.
Different Astral skill has different uses; some were used for combat and some others lively hood.
And somewhere in between came special types.
"Combat Astral lords are most in demand, in this world where Dreadbeasts roam"
Mark Wilson smiled and continued.
"So, I hope that both of you can sign a contract with our WoodLong Astral"
"As the branch manager of Riverstone city, I promise that if you join our company, company will give you the most benefit."
Hearing the benefit part both Simon and Ivan face glowed with curiosity.
Mark looked at them with a face said the fish has taken the bait.
"Firstly, you will gain an Entry-Level Astral Technique I assume both of you have head heard of it, right?"
Mark Wilson smiled and said, "this technique allows Astral lords to gather Astral energy from the environment faster than others to grow stronger faster than others who don't have Astral technique."
Hearing this Simon was surprised.
Since the emergence of the dimensional rifts, Astral energy appeared on Earth.
However, ordinary people could not sense nor could they absorb them from the environment.
Only the Astral lords could absorb Astral energy from the environment.
Why was Astral technique important?
It defined how fast an Astral lords can grow stronger.
But only giant organization and government had access to them, Astral lord who have joined either of them could get to use them.
"Secondly, company will arrange a stand-alone villa for each of you, of course the villa is company properties.
So, you can only have the right to reside in them, nor buy nor sell them."
Astral technique was unknown to them, they didn't know the value of that, but the stand-alone villas was something they knew the value off.
Because a stand-alone villa did not just show wealth in this godforsaken world, they gave them security and protection to them and their loved ones.
But to buy one.
They did not just need money they needed be backed with power and strength that goes beyond natural and steps into the stage of supernatural.
both of them were beyond excited hearing Mark's words.
Mark was very satisfied with their expression "thirdly, as an employee of Woodlong Astral company you two will be paid monthly salary of 50,000."
"I believe that in entire Riverstone Base City, there is almost no other organization that can provide such generous deal."
His eye looked at Simon and Ivan.
"So, consider joining our agency"
Ivan who was already excited and tempted, without any hesitation was going to agree to it.
However, Simon pulled him back and said "Ivan, this is a major life decision. We should at least discuss it with our parents."
Hearing this Ivan looked at Simon's crafty eye understanding the underlining meaning behind.
So, he agreed with him.
"Yes, we should ask our parents first, if my father knew that I made a decision with consulting him he would break my legs."
Ivan laughed.
Mark observed their expression and his expression darkened as his eyes sharpened looking at Simon but he kept his face neutral and smiled.
"Yes, its indeed major decision. Both of you should consult your family before taking any decisions."
His hands went to his back pocket as he pulled out two business cards.
"When you make your decision be sure to call me."
When giving card to Simon he leaned close, whispered into his ears.
"Know your place! Brat"
Deep voice rang in his ear, Simon felt shiver down his spin.
Killing intend so strong and deep that he felt he was standing before the wolf he encountered before.
But this time danger was real and it was standing before him ready to kill.
And Simon could even move his body to his will.
Helplessness filled his heart.
Ivan who was standing beside him watched as Simon face loss colour and became pale.
Understanding that something bad was happening Ivan reached out taking the business cards from Marks hand.
"Thank you, Sir!"
And quickly pulled Simon of the stage with him, disappeared in to crowed.